When the Matriarch collapsed, the entire Jia family panicked. Even Madam Wang absolutely did not want her to have an incident at this time.

If anyone in the Jia family could still make the Crown Prince and the Emperor show mercy, it was only her. No one else had that kind of influence. However, because the reason for the Matriarch’s fainting could not be spoken aloud, they dared not summon the imperial physicians. Instead, they had someone quietly fetch a doctor to examine her.

The Jia household was shrouded in gloom and despair. After the doctor arrived and made his diagnosis, the atmosphere became even more somber—the Matriarch had suffered a stroke.

The doctor didn’t need to say it; those who attended her closely could see it.

When the Matriarch had her first stroke, it had been relatively mild. With timely treatment, those unaware couldn’t tell she had ever suffered one. But this time, her eyes were crooked, her mouth was twisted, and her speech was slurred. When she woke and discovered she couldn’t even speak a single coherent sentence, she became so anxious that sweat beaded on her forehead.

“…Doc…tor, sa…ve me.” The words coming from the Matriarch’s mouth were fairly easy to guess. The doctor understood: “Old Madam, please rest assured, I will do my utmost. For now, focus on maintaining emotional stability—avoid anxiety and agitation.”

In short, she needed to keep her emotions calm. Even if something earth-shattering happened, it had to be set aside. She could not receive any more major shocks. She was already advanced in years; another shock could prove fatal.

Hearing the doctor’s words, the Matriarch’s eyes showed earnest pleading. From her gaze, one could see her desperate desire to live. She struggled to extend one hand, pointing at a drawer on the table, then tremblingly pointed at the doctor.

Yuanyang understood her best. She went over and retrieved a box filled with prepared silver ingots, worth several hundred taels in total, and gave them all to the doctor.

Even for a wealthy family, this was a substantial reward.

But at this moment, no one cared about the expense. Jia Zheng hastily added: “Doctor, if you cure my mother, don’t worry about money.”

Hearing her son’s words, the Matriarch—whose consciousness was still clear—showed some relief in her eyes.

Grand Madam Xing, Madam Wang, and Wang Xifeng immediately chimed in: “Doctor, you must cure our ancestor.”

The sight of the Matriarch lying in bed with a twisted mouth, unable to speak clearly, sent enormous shockwaves through the Jia family.

She was the Jia household’s ancestor. Though she didn’t manage the household directly, she was undoubtedly the one with real authority. If something happened to her, the Jia family would be turned upside down. It wasn’t that those suppressed under the Matriarch hadn’t imagined more relaxed days after her passing, but certainly not under these circumstances where the Jia family might face disaster.

At this moment, the desire for the Matriarch’s recovery was absolutely sincere.

Those serving by the Matriarch’s side became even more dedicated than usual.

They could live such good lives—better than ordinary young ladies outside—precisely because they served by the ancestor’s side. If the ancestor passed, regardless of which madam they went to serve, they would absolutely never enjoy the good days they had now.

The Jia household was bleak. When relatives and friends learned of this, aside from the Xue family who lived with them coming to visit, everyone else pretended not to know. Even the Matriarch’s natal Shi family didn’t send any masters to visit, because the two Shi family marquises were now full of regret. They too were members of the Eighth Prince’s faction. Their political stance was the same as the Jia family’s, and moreover, they had been drawn in by the Jia family. Now they resented the Jias.

Before they could think of any solution, they received transfer orders. Both brothers were impeached, demoted, and assigned to cold, unimportant posts in the provinces, to assume their duties on a designated date.

Once they left—departing immediately upon receiving their orders—it happened so quickly that people couldn’t react.

Shi Xiangyun went with them. If the Matriarch hadn’t suffered a stroke and wasn’t in this predicament, she would likely have suggested keeping Xiangyun behind.

Now, barring any accidents, they wouldn’t meet again until her selection for the palace or until her uncles received transfer orders back to the capital.

Another sister had left. Jia Baoyu was already heartbroken over his beloved grandmother lying ill in bed. Now he was even more distressed. He couldn’t even tell Sister Yun not to leave—the news only came after they had already departed.

Jia Baoyu was crying. Wang Xifeng also wanted to cry, filled with regret. Earlier, when she had wanted Sister Lin to help safeguard some silver as a backup plan and Sister Lin refused, she had taken it back. Looking at it now, she shouldn’t have reclaimed it. Silver she saved herself and silver others helped with—could those be the same?

Though she loved taking advantage, she knew this was one advantage she shouldn’t have sought.

Even a cunning rabbit has three burrows; as a living person, having several backup plans couldn’t hurt.

The Shi family’s situation wasn’t an isolated case, which intensified the Jia family’s worries. Would their family not be held accountable?

The Matriarch needed to maintain emotional stability, but in this situation, who dared conceal things and make decisions on their own?

Under the doctor’s treatment, the Matriarch’s articulation improved somewhat. But when she heard this news, she fainted again. The doctor didn’t dare promise he could save her.

For now, he could preserve her life, but not for much longer.

In their desperation, the Jia family turned to the Lin family. The Old Madam truly felt regret—at a time like this, it was inconvenient to go out, otherwise she would have liked to properly see the Matriarch’s pitiful appearance after her stroke.

The Old Madam sincerely felt this was fortunate for the Jia family. Without this pillar of support, perhaps the Jias would become more prudent and cause less trouble.

Moreover… even if the Crown Prince wanted to settle accounts with those who had betrayed him, he wouldn’t punish everyone. The court wouldn’t allow such large-scale turmoil.

However, the Crown Prince needed to reestablish his authority. The Shi family was among those he made an example of to warn others. The Jia family didn’t yet qualify as chickens to be killed.

If they behaved properly and weathered this storm, they should be fine.

But whether it was the Matriarch’s idea or Jia She and the others’, the Lin family wouldn’t get involved. They thought of their own solution—sending gifts to the Crown Prince to show their intention of returning to his camp.

Indeed, many people had returned to the Crown Prince’s side. The Crown Prince represented legitimacy. Their previous betrayal might be secretly noted, but once the Crown Prince accepted their gifts, they had temporarily passed this hurdle and could slowly plan for the future.

Learning of this, the Old Madam: “…”

She was silent for a moment, then couldn’t help but laugh aloud. Then, looking at the Buddha statue before her, she murmured an apology.

What the Jia family had done.

The Eighth Prince’s side hadn’t collapsed so quickly.

Previously, no one had thought that after the Crown Prince was deposed, he could be reinstated. But since he had already been deposed once, why couldn’t he be deposed a second time?

The Crown Prince’s position now wasn’t as secure as before. Before too long, he might be demoted again. Would the Jia family then reinvest in the Eighth Prince?

Given the Jia family’s nature, it wasn’t impossible.

Old Madam Lin had just been pleased for a short while when she received bad news.

“No, I don’t agree!” Upon hearing her son say her grandson wanted an external appointment, the Old Madam immediately refused. “He’s doing fine at the Hanlin Academy. Why does he need to go to the provinces?”

At her age, the possibility of following him to the provinces was very small.

She was reluctant.

Lin Ruhai had long anticipated this and wasn’t anxious. “Mother, the child has grown up. He’s spent enough time at the Hanlin Academy and has learned what he needed to learn. It would be better for him to go to the provinces and make some achievements. I’m here in the capital. Once he establishes merit, his return to the capital in the future will be smoother.”

With enough accumulated experience in the provinces, his son’s return to the capital would be natural, and people would have to consider his circumstances.

At his age, he was considered young among high-ranking court officials, but looking at the Lin family’s ancestors, there weren’t many who lived long lives. If he also… the earlier he planned for his son, the better.

The Old Madam immediately frowned: “Silence! How can you curse yourself like this!”

Lin Ruhai knew she didn’t want to hear it, but whether she wanted to or not, she had to accept this reality—the Lin family ancestors truly hadn’t lived long lives.

Thinking of her son’s early death in the dream world, tears came to the Old Madam’s eyes. “How can you bear this? I haven’t passed yet—you’re not allowed to go before me! Do you hear me!”

“You’re perfectly healthy now and will remain so in the future!”

Lin Ruhai sighed softly: “Mother, don’t get agitated. Your son will take good care of his health. It’s just that worldly affairs are unpredictable.”

The Old Madam stopped speaking, turned away, and closed her eyes. She didn’t want to talk with him anymore.

Lin Ruhai didn’t press her to accept immediately and changed the subject. Seeing she still wouldn’t respond, he smiled bitterly and left: “Mother, I’ll come again tomorrow.”

Then the Fourth Prince learned of this. He strongly approved of Chen Yu’s idea of an external appointment and even asked if he needed recommendations for some locations.

The Old Madam: “…”

She held back her objections, not knowing how to refuse under these circumstances. Finally, she reluctantly agreed, though she tried to delay: “There’s no rush!”

Not long after, the Emperor initiated a grand distribution of noble titles. The Third Prince was enfeoffed as Prince Cheng of the First Rank, the Fourth Prince as Prince Yong of the First Rank, the Fifth Prince as Prince Heng of the First Rank, the Seventh Prince as Prince Chun of the Second Rank, the Tenth Prince as Prince Dun of the Second Rank, while the Ninth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Princes were enfeoffed as Princes of the Fourth Rank. This was absolutely joyous news!

Even though some princes weren’t enfeoffed, seemingly forgotten by the Emperor, for most people this was cause for celebration. The entire capital became filled with joy, with banquets and drinking gatherings in endless succession.

For the Fourth Prince’s household, there were two recent joyous occasions. The first was undoubtedly the Fourth Prince’s elevation in rank to Prince of the First Rank. The second was that a Ce Fujin in the household had announced good news—double happiness!

Upon receiving this news, the Old Madam couldn’t sit still. She clamored to go see her granddaughter. This was wonderful news!

Regardless of whether Luo Yu’s child was a boy or girl, with the dragon-phoenix twins ahead, there was no pressure on subsequent children. In the future, it would either be a princess or a prince!